Instrument: brass tentet (score and parts)
Grade: conservatoire
Catalogue No: AL002
In December 1890, a world-weary Brahms sent his publisher a note: "You can now take leave of my music: it's high time I stopped". It was not to be, since in 1891 he heard the clarinetist, Richard Mühlfield and was inspired to write the A minor Trio and B minor Quintet for him to play. These were in turn followed by a series of piano pieces published in four sets as Op. 116, 117, 118 and 119.
In the Intermezzo No. 3, the melody unusually resides almost exclusively in the alto line (in this arrangement ascribed to horn and flugelhorn). Its open, cheerful style and playful melodic invention seem a long way removed from the pessimistic resignation of December, 1890.
This arrangement is an ideal companion to the other two Op. 119 works published by ALAW.